Owning and managing a rental property comes with many risks and responsibilities. One of those risks is potential damage caused if tenants smoke at the property.

Landlords could be left with clean up bills from tobacco odour, cigarette scorch marks or even substantial fire damage from an unattended lit cigarette.

Landlords can put measures in place to reduce the risk of this type of damage occurring at their property.

Include a smoking policy on the lease agreement

A non-smoking policy is one of the most common ways landlords can enforce no smoking at a rental property.

Deciding whether to allow smoking at a rental property is a personal decision for a landlord and one that should be carefully considered.

Landlords may be reluctant to allow smokers to live in their rental property because of the strong smell which comes from tobacco smoke which can linger in carpet, curtains or soft furnishings for some time.

Cigarette butts can also cause scorch marks on carpet and kitchen bench tops which are often hard to repair and may need replacing at the cost to the landlord.

If a non-smoking policy is implemented it should be outlined in the rental agreement with clear stipulations and potential penalties.

Landlords may decide to allow smoking at the property within certain parameters, such as it only being permissible outdoors, reducing the potential risk of damage.

Even if a tenant doesn’t smoke, friends or family visiting the property may smoke so landlords should decide whether it is important to clearly state this on the lease.

Some landlords may not have an issue with smoking at their rental property, instead seeing it as an opportunity to increase the pool of prospective tenants for the property and potentially decrease the time it takes to find a tenant.

Regular property inspections

Regular inspections are a way to ensure the non-smoking policy is being adhered to and can make it easier for landlords to quickly identify if and when any damage has occurred.

Discarded cigarette butts, scorch marks or the smell of tobacco smoke are potential signs of smoking.

If you suspect a tenant is smoking inside the property, you may wish to speak to your tenants about this and discuss the resolution process.

Generally, a first step is to send a warning notice advising the tenant they are breaching the lease agreement (if the lease agreement does indeed prohibit smoking).

If you appoint a property manager they can help you carry out regular inspections and advise of the correct process if a tenant breaches their lease agreement.

Screen tenants

When choosing the most suitable tenant a number of factors need to be considered, including whether they’ll make rental payments on time, how they will look after the property and lifestyle factors, including their smoker status.

Thoroughly check potential tenants’ references during the screening process. Speak with previous landlords or property managers and ask specifically whether they had any issues with the tenant in the past.

If you have a non-smoking policy at the property, tenants should be made aware of this.

Screening a tenant from the outset may help you to mitigate potential loss in the future.

Appropriate insurance

Even the most cautious tenant can cause damage to a property, whether accidental or otherwise. This can be extremely costly for the landlord in terms of repairs and the loss of rental income.

Taking out appropriate landlord insurance can help protect landlords from the many risks associated with owning a rental property, including accidental damage by tenants.

Having specialised landlord insurance in place can help protect a landlord if a claimable event happens at the property.

What contents are covered?

Contents covered include any of the items listed below which are owned by you (or which you are legally responsible for), which are listed in the most recent inventory/property condition report and which have been left at the property.

Strata Titled Buildings

For Strata titled buildings 'contents' also means: temporary wall, floor and ceiling covers, and any fixture or structural improvement servicing a particular lot which the body corporate or similar is not required by law to insure.

What is building?

'Building' means the property owned by you, used primarily as a residential building, and includes:

Fixed floor coverings such as linoleum, floor tiles and parquetry, (but not carpets),

Fixed light fittings which are hardwired to the building,

Tennis courts, and

Underground services such as plumbing, sewerage, water and electrical which are located on your property.

Things you need to know

It's important that you read the following information before commencing your quote.

By getting a quote you agree that the right PDS is being made available to you by this website and agree with our Online Terms & Privacy Statement. You can also read the Suncorp Group Privacy Statement here.

Duty of Disclosure

If you purchase insurance from Terri Scheer Insurance, the information you provide during Online Quote and Purchase (including the answers to any questions we have asked you) will form part of your application for insurance. Before commencing the Online Quote therefore it is very important that we have explained your Duty of Disclosure obligations.

Your Duty of Disclosure

Before you enter into an insurance contract, you have a duty of disclosure under the Insurance Contracts Act 1984.

If we ask you questions that are relevant to our decision to insure you and on what terms, you must tell us anything that you know and that a reasonable person in the circumstances would include in answering the questions.

You have this duty until we agree to insure you.

If you do not tell us something

If you do not tell us anything you are required to tell us, we may cancel your contract or reduce the amount we will pay you if you make a claim, or both.

If your failure to tell us is fraudulent, we may refuse to pay a claim and treat the contract as if it never existed.

By proceeding you agree that you have read and understand your Duty of Disclosure.

The quote is available for 30 days from the date it is generated. It is not a contract of insurance and does not provide cover.

By clicking on Start quote I confirm that I have read and accept the conditions as set above under Things you need to know.

Things you need to know

It's important that you read the following information before commencing your quote.

By getting a quote you agree that the right PDS is being made available to you by this website and agree with our Online Terms & Privacy Statement. You can also read the Suncorp Group Privacy Statement here.

Duty of Disclosure

If you purchase insurance from Terri Scheer Insurance, the information you provide during Online Quote and Purchase (including the answers to any questions we have asked you) will form part of your application for insurance. Before commencing the Online Quote therefore it is very important that we have explained your Duty of Disclosure obligations.

Your Duty of Disclosure

Before you enter into an insurance contract, you have a duty of disclosure under the Insurance Contracts Act 1984.

If we ask you questions that are relevant to our decision to insure you and on what terms, you must tell us anything that you know and that a reasonable person in the circumstances would include in answering the questions.

You have this duty until we agree to insure you.

If you do not tell us something

If you do not tell us anything you are required to tell us, we may cancel your contract or reduce the amount we will pay you if you make a claim, or both.

If your failure to tell us is fraudulent, we may refuse to pay a claim and treat the contract as if it never existed.

By proceeding you agree that you have read and understand your Duty of Disclosure.

The quote is available for 30 days from the date it is generated. It is not a contract of insurance and does not provide cover.

By clicking on Start quote I confirm that I have read and accept the conditions as set above under Things you need to know.

Things you need to know

It's important that you read the following information before commencing your quote.

By getting a quote you agree that the right PDS is being made available to you by this website and agree with our Online Terms & Privacy Statement. You can also read the Suncorp Group Privacy Statement here.

Duty of Disclosure

If you purchase insurance from Terri Scheer Insurance, the information you provide during Online Quote and Purchase (including the answers to any questions we have asked you) will form part of your application for insurance. Before commencing the Online Quote therefore it is very important that we have explained your Duty of Disclosure obligations.

Your Duty of Disclosure

Before you enter into an insurance contract, you have a duty of disclosure under the Insurance Contracts Act 1984.

If we ask you questions that are relevant to our decision to insure you and on what terms, you must tell us anything that you know and that a reasonable person in the circumstances would include in answering the questions.

You have this duty until we agree to insure you.

If you do not tell us something

If you do not tell us anything you are required to tell us, we may cancel your contract or reduce the amount we will pay you if you make a claim, or both.

If your failure to tell us is fraudulent, we may refuse to pay a claim and treat the contract as if it never existed.

By proceeding you agree that you have read and understand your Duty of Disclosure.

The quote is available for 30 days from the date it is generated. It is not a contract of insurance and does not provide cover.

By clicking on Start quote I confirm that I have read and accept the conditions as set above under Things you need to know.

Things you need to know

It's important that you read the following information before commencing your quote.

By getting a quote you agree that the right PDS is being made available to you by this website and agree with our Online Terms & Privacy Statement. You can also read the Suncorp Group Privacy Statement here.

Duty of Disclosure

If you purchase insurance from Terri Scheer Insurance, the information you provide during Online Quote and Purchase (including the answers to any questions we have asked you) will form part of your application for insurance. Before commencing the Online Quote therefore it is very important that we have explained your Duty of Disclosure obligations.

Your Duty of Disclosure

Before you enter into an insurance contract, you have a duty of disclosure under the Insurance Contracts Act 1984.

If we ask you questions that are relevant to our decision to insure you and on what terms, you must tell us anything that you know and that a reasonable person in the circumstances would include in answering the questions.

You have this duty until we agree to insure you.

If you do not tell us something

If you do not tell us anything you are required to tell us, we may cancel your contract or reduce the amount we will pay you if you make a claim, or both.

If your failure to tell us is fraudulent, we may refuse to pay a claim and treat the contract as if it never existed.

By proceeding you agree that you have read and understand your Duty of Disclosure.

The quote is available for 30 days from the date it is generated. It is not a contract of insurance and does not provide cover.

By clicking on Start quote I confirm that I have read and accept the conditions as set above under Things you need to know.

Any advice about the insurance products described in this website is general advice and has been prepared without taking into account anyone’s objectives, financial situation, or needs. Anyone intending to acquire a policy should consider the appropriateness of this advice together with the Product Disclosure Statement relating to the policy before making any decision about whether to purchase a policy.

*Across Australia, 71% of Terri Scheer customers paid $1 or less a day for their Landlord Insurance policy. Premium is based on all Terri Scheer Landlord Preferred and Landlord Self-Managed Insurance policies purchased or renewed in the 6 months 1/7/2018 – 31/12/18, inclusive of taxes. Conditions and eligibility criteria apply